Strop for Stainless Steel

H

HMC

Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
147
I went to the local baber, and asked him to teach me the right way to strop a blade. I can't seem to get the nack. Anyway I brought my Vic SAK Cadet. He said you can't "really" strop SS. Is this true, and why?
 
You can strop any steel. I strop my SS blades jusy like the rest.
For SS stropping compounds try Dico SCR (white) for an agressive cutting compound, and chrome oxide (dark green) for high polish.
 
I strop stainless steels all the time, but I strop with a honing compound(Chromium Oxide .5microns).
 
Leave the hair cutting to him and bring your knife questions to Blade Forums. :D Most people here that are into a high quality edge will strop their blade's edge, Stainless included, to get the final result that they are looking for. Many use a loaded piece of leather, with chromium oxide, attached to a stiff backing and not the slack belt the barber would use for a straight razor. IMO There is plenty of info here and on You tube on how to strop your knife. I am learning more each day from others who have been there and done it. Good luck.
 
I can tell you for sure that Stainless will strop just fine. I use mostly green compound (I am sure it is crap, I got it from the hardware store, but it works great for me).

I will say, that some carbon steels respond much quicker to the strop. For example 5160 gets to hair popping sharp much quicker than some stainless if you let them get dull.
 
Big,The green rouge works for me as well.Purchased from Sheffield Knife Supplies by the brick.When there is a burr,I press firm/hard to remove it.Otherwise a med./firm strop will refine the edge enough on stainless.DM
 
David Martin said:
Big,The green rouge works for me as well.Purchased from Sheffield Knife Supplies by the brick.When there is a burr,I press firm/hard to remove it.Otherwise a med./firm strop will refine the edge enough on stainless.DM
Click to expand...

I did it. I think. I used a push rather than a pull stroke. I had an old belt nailed down to a board, got a brick of cheap black compound, salted the leather with it and away I went. I'll keep practicing. (At least til everyone here says I'm doing it wrong).
 
HMC said:
I did it. I think. I used a push rather than a pull stroke. I had an old belt nailed down to a board, got a brick of cheap black compound, salted the leather with it and away I went. I'll keep practicing. (At least til everyone here says I'm doing it wrong).
Click to expand...


Your doing it WRONG! :D

Really though you should be using edge trailing strokes when stropping.
 
jpvjr said:
Got to agree you draw the knife spine first.
I don't use compound, just a belt. What's that do for you?
Click to expand...

It polishes the edge. If you have a magnifying glass you see serations, with an unloaded belt those serations only partially smoothen, with a compound (the finer the better) you can see those serations dissapear.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top